Collingwood has produced the surprise of the AFL draft, but coach Mick Malthouse said it had been months in the planning.

As widely anticipated, Carlton snared Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Marc Murphy, the best player in this year's national under 18 championships, with the No.1 pick.

Murphy was saved a sleepless night when the Blues informed him of their intention on Friday.

But the Magpies' first pick, No.2 overall, speedy midfielder Dale Thomas, had no warning of Collingwood's plan.

And with most pundits tipping the Magpies to take his Gippsland Power team-mate defender Xavier Ellis first, he admitted he was stunned to hear his name so early.

"I nearly fell off my seat," Thomas said.

"I was not expecting (to be) No.2 and when my name got read out I was pretty dumbfounded.

"It's definitely exciting, the heart starts to race.

"I had (Collingwood president) Eddie McGuire come up and put a shirt on me straightaway and it's just a pretty good experience."

Ellis was snaffled by Hawthorn at No.3.

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